Minnesota traffic deaths up in 2012, first increase in five years

For the first time in five years, the number of traffic deaths increased in Minnesota as 378 people were killed in 2012, according to preliminary reports from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office of Traffic Safety.

Comment

The Sleepy Eye Herald Dispatch

Writer

Posted Jan. 7, 2013 at 4:14 PM
Updated Jan 7, 2013 at 4:17 PM

Posted Jan. 7, 2013 at 4:14 PM
Updated Jan 7, 2013 at 4:17 PM

St. Paul

For the first time in five years, the number of traffic deaths increased in Minnesota as 378 people were killed in 2012, according to preliminary reports from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office of Traffic Safety.

In 2011, 368 people died in crashes on Minnesota roads.

DPS projects the final total—available in early summer as additional crash reports are submitted—to be around 390, 6 percent above the 2011 figure.

Despite the increase, 2012 will be the second safest year (behind 2011) since 1944 (356 deaths). Officials expect common traffic safety issues will again be the primary contributing factors for the 2012 deaths: drunk driving, seat belt non-use, speeding and distracted driving.

Traffic safety officials say a warmer winter to start the year—leading to faster, unsafe speeds— and a spike in motorcyclist fatalities were the main factors for the increase in deaths. An early spring led to a longer and deadlier riding season as 53 motorcyclists were killed, a 26 percent increase from 42 deaths in 2011.

“We can’t forget the victims lost in these crashes, they are the reasons and reminders we all need to commit to safe driving behaviors in 2013,” says Donna Berger, DPS Office of Traffic Safety director.

In the last decade, the state’s annual traffic deaths have trended downward: in 2002 there were 657 deaths.

In 2011, Minnesota had among the lowest and safest death rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the nation at 0.65.

The 378 deaths in 2012 included:

281 motorists

53 motorcyclists

38 pedestrians

Six bicyclists

The deadliest months in 2012 were September (48), August (42) and October (38). The safest months were April (19), January (20) and March (23).

Preliminary DWI Results for 2012:

• 26,628 motorists were arrested for DWI (preliminary). There were 29,918 DWI arrests in 2011.

Each year, drunk driving-related crashes account for more than one-third of the state’s total death count. In 2011, there were 111 drunk driving-related deaths.